The Philadelphia Phillies enter Tuesday’s matchup against the Chicago Cubs with a 38–28 record and renewed optimism after snapping a five-game losing streak with a gritty 4–3 extra-inning win in the series opener, thanks to a walk-off single by Brandon Marsh that provided a much-needed spark for a team that had dropped nine of its last ten. Despite the slump, the Phillies remain firmly in the playoff conversation and will look to build off Monday’s dramatic win with the highly anticipated second career start of top prospect Mick Abel, who impressed in his MLB debut by allowing just one run over 5.2 innings and flashing elite fastball command and composure far beyond his years. With ace Zack Wheeler and Bryce Harper currently sidelined due to injury, the pressure has shifted to the supporting cast, and Abel’s emergence could not have come at a better time for a rotation searching for depth and a spark. Offensively, the Phillies have leaned on Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm for production in Harper’s absence, with Schwarber’s left-handed power always a threat to change a game and Bohm providing consistent RBI output from the middle of the order. They’ve also gotten timely contributions from Bryson Stott and J.T. Realmuto, but the bottom half of the lineup remains a question mark, often failing to turn over the order efficiently or extend innings with quality at-bats.

Defensively, the Phillies have struggled recently, with unearned runs and fielding miscues costing them games, particularly during their recent losing streak, which has made clean play behind their pitchers an urgent priority. The bullpen has been hit-or-miss, with closer Craig Kimbrel providing stability in save situations but setup men like Jeff Hoffman and Seranthony Domínguez battling command issues that have led to blown leads or extra stress for the starters. Against a deep and disciplined Cubs lineup, Philadelphia will need Abel to repeat his debut performance by getting ahead early, limiting walks, and avoiding the types of mistakes that players like Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong punish. The game plan will also include generating early offense to provide run support and take pressure off the bullpen, and the Phillies’ success may come down to whether their veteran bats can capitalize on runners in scoring position—an area that has haunted them during their recent skid. The Phillies’ home crowd should provide energy, especially with anticipation surrounding Abel’s second start, but that same energy could turn if defensive issues or bullpen collapses resurface. If Philadelphia can strike first, play clean defensively, and string together timely hits while keeping the Cubs from jumping on Abel early, they could ride the momentum from Monday’s win to another tightly contested victory. A 4–3 or 5–4 type of game is likely, with the outcome hinging on whether Abel’s early rhythm and the offense’s situational execution can outlast the Cubs’ pressure and prevent the game from falling into late-inning chaos that has too often gone against the Phillies during this inconsistent stretch.